Improved Precipitation Forecasting for Iowa

Project Personnel (Iowa State University):

• Dr. William Gallus (Professor)
• Dave Flory (Research Assistant)
• Andy Mair (Student)
• Casey Zoellick (Student)

Improved quantitative precipitation forecasts are necessary to ensure the most accurate prediction of streamflows and flooding. A state-of-the-art mesoscale model, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model developed by the U.S. atmospheric research community, will provide high temporal frequency forecasts of precipitation amounts over and near Iowa. The model’s configuration will be based on years of research performed at Iowa State University, examining the best grid spacings and parameterizations for heavy precipitation forecasting. Relatively new methods of post-processing to improve forecasting, such as neighborhood approaches, will be investigated.

Funding sources for this project:

• State of Iowa, Iowa Flood Center